Tackling

Child Labor:
An introduction for
business leaders
CONTENT
FOREWORD 4

WHY URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED 6

CHILD LABOR - A GLOBAL ISSUE 7

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 8

WHAT IS CHILD LABOR? 10

UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CHILD LABOR 12

BUSINESS AND CHILD LABOR: THE NEED FOR A CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH 14

ACTIONS FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 16

WHY TAKING ACTION MAKES BUSINESS SENSE 31

Acknowledgments: WBCSD is delighted to partner with UNICEF to advance business understanding and action in this
important space. We would also like to express special gratitude to our consulting partner twentyfifty, for their expert review and
contributions to this report. We extend our sincere thanks to all WBCSD member companies and Global Network partners who
shared their insights, experience and recommendations throughout the ideation and review process.​UNICEF is grateful for the
financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) that contributed to this
report.

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 2

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 3
FOREWORD
Eliminating child labor in all its forms by 2025 is a more ambitious task than ever.
The world is failing on its collective
commitment to eliminate child labor
in all its forms by 2025, even though
we have clear evidence on how to
reach our goal. This target, enshrined
in the Sustainable Development
Goals, is now more urgent than ever.
Recent estimates show that global
progress has stalled, and that rates
of child labor could increase as a
consequence of the COVID-19
pandemic. Without urgent prevention
and mitigation measures, 140 million
children will still be in child labor by
2025. 140 million children at risk. 140
million futures on the line. 140 million
reasons to act now.
As we take stock during this
International Year for the Elimination
of Child Labour, we must ask
ourselves some tough questions. Are
governments and businesses working
together in synergy? Is the private
sector addressing the root causes of
child labor, including by guaranteeing
decent work and adequate wages
for adults? How can we meaningfully
serve those in the informal economy
who are often the most vulnerable?
And how can we combat harmful
gender norms and stereotypes, and
ensure access for women and girls to
quality education and skills training?
We must find answers to these crucial
questions and accelerate global
efforts to end the practice of child
labor once and for all.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 4
We already know a great deal about
how to protect children. We know
from evidence and experience that
success hinges firmly on reinforcing
systems of prevention that ensure
child labor does not occur in the first
place. To that end, we must work to
extend inclusive social protection
coverage, promote decent work for
adults, improve access to quality
education, guarantee that every child
is registered at birth, strengthen child
protection systems, and ensure that
the necessary laws and regulations
are in place and enforced to safeguard
the rights of children.
This vital work involves all of us – programs to increase the accessibility
including businesses. of quality education, and strengthen
data collection and transparency to
As powerful change agents, there
make child labor visible and shameful.
is a unique and important role for
CEOs and their corporations to play in
building the world we want for children.
We hope this report will contribute
to a rethinking of what is possible, Together, we can
The multifaceted nature of the a reinvigorated faith in the power of create a world free
challenge requires a comprehensive,
immediate and unified business
collective impact and a commitment
to integrate, invest and inspire for of child labor.
response. sustained and inclusive progress.
Together, we can create a world free One fit for every
Through their leverage, voice and
actions on the ground, businesses
of child labor. One fit for every child. child. One fit for
can lead, implement and inspire
holistic approaches to prevent child
One fit for all of us.
all of us. 
labor. These efforts include integrating
child rights into core business
operations, adopting zero-tolerance
approaches, investing in the capacity
of suppliers and partners throughout
the supply chain to address root
causes and supporting working
parents with gender-sensitive family- Henrietta Fore Peter Bakker
friendly policies. Businesses should Executive Director President and CEO
also advocate for enabling legal and UNICEF WBCSD
regulatory frameworks, promote

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 5

WHY URGENT Child labor is a serious violation of multiple children’s rights.
It puts children at risk of physical and mental harm,
ACTION IS compromises their education and limits their future
opportunities. It also undermines economic development and
NEEDED creates a vicious inter-generational cycle of poverty.
According to the latest global estimates, child labor has risen for the first time in two
decades.At present, the world is not on track to meet SDG Target 8.7 to end child
labor in all its forms by 2025. In order to meet this goal, global progress would need
to be almost 18 times faster than the rate observed over the past two decades.
Latest studies by the International Labour That's approximately 1 in 10 children worldwide. It is predicted that a further 9 million children
Organization (ILO) and UNICEF have found that are now at risk of being pushed into child labor by
there are 160 million children in child labor. the end of 2022 as an impact of the COVID-19
pandemic.

Global progress in eliminating child labor
has stalled for the first time in 20 years.
Between 2016-2020 the number of children in child labor
increased by 8.4 million.
70% of all children in child labor are in agriculture.
More than three quarters of all children aged 5 to 11 in child labor are working
primarily on family farms or in family microenterprises.
79 million children – nearly half of all those
in child labor – are in hazardous work.
Hazardous work is defined as work that can lead to death, injury, illness
or psychological damage.

245.5 million Agriculture Services

70% 19.7% 160 million
151.6 160 Children in
million million child labor
Child
Labor

Hazardous Work Industry 79 million

Children in
10.3% hazardous work
2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

Source: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward (UNICEF/ILO, June 2021)
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 6
CHILD LABOR - A GLOBAL ISSUE
Although child labor is more Whilst there is a high prevalence of child labor in sub-Saharan Africa, more than
prevalent in lower-income half of all child labor occurs in middle-income countries. his diagram below shows
countries, it exists in almost the percentage and number of children aged 5 to 17 who are engaged in child
every sector and region of labor as well as the percentage of children aged 5 to 14 in child labor and out of
the world. school in each region. Evidence shows that children who are not in school are at
higher risk of child labor.

Europe & Latin America Central & Eastern & Sub-Saharan Northern Africa
Northern America & the Caribbean Southern Asia South-Eastern Asia Africa & Western Asia

0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50%

Children in child labor 2.3% (3.8 million) 6% (8.2 million) 5.5% (26.3 million) 6.2% (24.3 million) 23.9% (86.6 million) 7.8% (10.1million)

0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50%

Children aged 5 to 14 in child No data available due to low levels
labor and out of school. of children in child labor and out of school 15.5% 35.3% 37.2% 28.1% 28.1%

Turkey
A Syrian girl picks olives from a
tree. She is amongst many children
that have to work long hours in
conditions that are often unsafe
for children.
Bolivia
A brother & sister aged 13 and 7
carry sugar cane stalks for planting.
Their family lived in a makeshift
tarpaulin shelter, in a village which
has no school and no
transportation to the nearest
school.
Bangladesh
Boys aged 10 and 11 in their
workplace in an aluminum factory
in Dhaka. They work 12-hour days
in conditions that are dangerous
for their health.
Myanmar
A 9-year-old girl works on her
mother's loom inside the common
hall of a weaving workshop.
School season has been delayed
due to a COVID-19 lockdown.
Democratic Republic of the
Congo
Child miners at work in Luhihi
village, South Kivu Province.
UNICEF data shows that some
40,000 children – many of them
from families who have been
displaced – work in mines in the
south-east of the DRC.
Syrian Arab Republic
Imad, 13, is the eldest son in a family
of seven. He is the breadwinner and
his family depends on his weekly
income of $7 for sustenance. "I don’t
have any dreams. I am too busy at
work to dream or to go play."

Oceania: The region of Oceania is omitted due to low data coverage. For this reason, region-specific numbers do not add up to the global total.

Source: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward (UNICEF/ILO, June 2021)
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 7
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
Without urgent mitigation measures, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to push millions more
children into child labor.
It is predicted that a further 9 million
children may end up in child labor by
the end of 2022 as a result of rising
poverty, driven by the pandemic. Poor
households who have suffered job
losses and income reductions may
increasingly turn to child labor to meet
their basic needs. According to data
from the ILO and UNICEF, a one per cent
rise in poverty has the potential to lead
to a 0.7 per cent growth in child labor.
Evidence from past crises shows that
when faced with economic and labor
market shocks, poor families grapple
with increased vulnerability and struggle
to make provisions for schooling.
Tuition fees, including the costs of
textbooks, uniforms and transportation
can become unaffordable for poorer
families, forcing them to pull their
children out of school to join the
workforce or – particularly in the
case of girls – support the household
with unpaid domestic work such as
caregiving.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
90% of children globally have
experienced some form of school
closures. It is estimated that about 24
million children have dropped out of
school for good. It has been observed
that once a child leaves education to
earn money, they seldom return.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 8
For many vulnerable children, school
feeding programs represent a
significant part of their daily nutrient
requirements. UNICEF and the World
Food Programme estimated in January
2021 that a total of 39 billion in-school
meals have been missed since the
pandemic began. Increased food
insecurity may drive more children
to work to earn money for food, or to
work on farms in exchange for food.
Meanwhile, children already in child labor
may be working longer hours or under
worsening conditions, while many more
may be forced into the worst forms of
child labor.
 © UNICEF/UNI320738// Frank Dejongh
As a result of
the COVID-19
pandemic, 90% of
children globally
have experienced
some form of
school closures

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 9

WHAT IS CHILD LABOR?
The term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives
children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity.
It refers to work that is mentally,
physically, socially or morally dangerous
and harmful to children; and/or interferes
with their schooling by: depriving
them of the opportunity to attend
school; obliging them to leave school
prematurely; or requiring them to
attempt to combine school attendance
with excessively long and heavy work.
The term "child labor" does not
encompass all work performed by
children under the age of 18. Young
people above the minimum working
age should be able to engage in
developmentally appropriate work, but
still need protection from hazardous
work and other worst forms of child
labor.
International standards set the minimum
age for work at 15 (14 for some
developing countries). Children aged 15
and above can undertake general work
as long as it is not hazardous, and does
not interfere with the child’s education,
health, safety or morals.
Child labor can result in extreme bodily
and mental harm, and even death. It can
lead to slavery and sexual or economic
exploitation. And in nearly every case,
it cuts children off from schooling and
health care, restricting their fundamental
rights and threatening their futures.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 10
Children’s rights
Every child has rights, such as the
right to education, to health, to play,
to an adequate standard of living, to
be free from economic exploitation
(e.g. child labor), to express their
views, feelings and wishes and to
have their views considered. The
rights of children are enshrined
in relevant ILO Conventions and
the Convention on the Rights of
the Child (CRC) – the most widely
ratified human rights treaty in the
world.
Children rely on adults to realize
their rights. Children are more
vulnerable than adults due to their
developing immune systems,
inability to access power structures
and voice their opinions.
Child labor directly impacts and
undermines a child's ability to
exercise and access a whole range
of their rights.
International Labour
Organization (ILO) Terminology 

Child: A ‘child’ is a person below the age of 18.

Light work: Children aged 13-15 (12-14 in some
developing countries), can do ‘light work’ with adult
supervision, to earn pocket money outside school
hours or during school holidays.
Worst forms of child labor: When we talk about the
“worst forms of child labor”, this refers to children who
are enslaved, separated from their families, exposed
to serious hazards and illnesses and/or left to fend for
themselves. This could include slavery, forced labor
(including in armed conflict), prostitution and other
illicit activities.
Young worker: A young worker is a person aged
above the legal working age but still considered a
child under international law (i.e. below the age of 18).
In many countries, these are children who work and
are between the age of 15 and 17.
Hazardous work: This is work that endangers the
physical, mental or moral wellbeing of the child, either
by its nature or by the conditions under which it is
performed (e.g. working late, at night, carrying heavy
loads, working with machinery, dangerous tools or
chemicals).

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 11

 © UNICEF/UNI77796/Mia
UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT
CAUSES OF CHILD LABOR
Child labor is rarely the consequence of a single event, action or
issue. Instead, it is often the culmination of a complex array of
factors at the individual, household, community,
and broader economic and societal levels.  

Studies have identified a complex
relationship between poverty, lack
of access to quality education and
child labor. Moreover, labor informality,
absence of adequate social services
and infrastructure, presence of violence
and abuse, inadequate labor-saving
technologies, climate change, harmful
social norms and values, and gender
and other forms of discrimination are
key underlying factors. 
Most children in child labor work within
their own family unit. Recent child labor
estimates suggest that this trend has
grown in relative importance over the
last four years. Where families are
indebted, have poor access to credit,
rely on a single income, or have lost
adults to illness or death, children may
be driven into child labor to make ends
meet.  
Child labor is inextricably linked to a
host of key child rights vulnerabilities
and cannot be considered in isolation
from them. This underscores the
urgent need – for governments and
businesses alike – to respond to child
labor through holistic, multi-faceted,
multi-sectoral and context-specific
approaches. 

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 12

Root Causes Common Children's Rights Issues in the Context of Child Labor

Social norms
and traditions

Natural
disasters, Poor standars of living
crises and
climate change Household poverty, unemployment, insufficient and/or
volatile income make it difficult for families to achieve an
adequate standard of living. This can force them to rely on
Environmental child labor to meet their basic needs.
degradation

Lack of child protection

Effective child protection systems are at the core of
Conflicts and
migration preventing, responding to and removing children from child
labor. Child protection systems identify, provide support
and coordinate social services for families and children at
risk. A lack of such systems makes children more
Absence of decent
work for adults and
young workers
vulnerable.
Child Labor
Exclusion from education
258 million children, adolescents and young people are out
Gender of school. Many of them are already engaged in or at risk
inequality from child labor. The COVID-19 pandemic and related
school closures have exacerbated education exclusion,
increasing child labor risks further.
Poverty and
food insecurity Inadequate laws and poor levels of enforcement
Inadequate laws, regulations and policies give rise to an
Lack of access environment that can perpetuate child labor. An adequate
to quality, legal architecture regarding labor laws, age for compulsory
affordable schooling and other underlying factors (such as freedom of
childcare association, maternity protection and workplace
non-discrimination) is essential to protect children from
Irresponsible economic exploitation.
purchasing terms
for suppliers

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 13

BUSINESS AND CHILD LABOR: THE NEED
FOR A CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH
While child labor may seem like a remote issue for many businesses, the reality is that it is rife in
global supply chains and is still an integral part of the processes that bring a wide range of goods
and products to market.
All companies have a critical role
to play in tackling child labor in their
operations and by working with their
suppliers and local communities to
prevent and eliminate child labor in
their supply chains.
It is also important for companies to
recognize their role in giving rise to
child labor in the first place. Several
of the root causes of child labor can
be directly linked to business models
and practices that drive wider adverse
societal impacts. For example a lack of
decent work, living wages and family-
friendly business practices for adults
can significantly limit children's access
to adequate education and care.
Economic and commercial pressures
on suppliers can also play a key role in
contributing to child labor and other
forms of labor exploitation.
While by no means all drivers of child
labor relate to business conduct,
understanding broader root causes
enables businesses to take targeted
action. It also allows them to use their
resources in a way that ensures efforts
to address child labor are effective,
scalable and sustainable.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 14
It is important for businesses to
adopt a child-centered approach
that takes into account the context-
specific vulnerability of children.
This requires assessing how the
company may contribute to such
vulnerabilities through its own conduct
and relationships – and indeed how it
could make a positive contribution to
tackling these vulnerabilities.
Ensuring visibility and compliance with
labor laws throughout the supply chain
is essential, in addition to a focus on
the most vulnerable.
Such an approach should always ensure
that pursuing the ‘best interests of the child’
is the guiding star for any business decision
or action – recognizing that adverse
impact cannot be offset.
The decision-making process should
also be premised on children’s own
perspectives – either by engaging
them directly, where appropriate and
with adequate safeguards, or their
representatives who advocate for their best
interests.

It is important
for businesses
to adopt a
child-centered
approach TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 15
ACTIONS FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
Businesses have a critical role to play in positively
changing the lives of children by addressing the root
causes of child labor.

This document focuses on 3 areas in which business leaders can take Children are among the
meaningful action to support the elimination of child labor:​ most marginalized and
vulnerable members
of society and can be
disproportionately,
severely, and
permanently impacted
INTEGRATE INVEST INSPIRE by business activities,
robust children’s rights in the company’s others to take meaningful operations, and
considerations into
core business strategy,
capacity to address
and prevent child labor,
action: internally within
the business and relationships.
activities, processes, and in local community externally with partners,
decisions and resilience. suppliers, industry peers,
relationships. governments and local John Ruggie
authorities. Former Special Representative
of the UN Secretary-General on
The following section provides examples of key actions to integrate, invest and inspire others Business and Human Rights
to eliminate child labor.

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 16

 INTEGRATE
Integrate child rights considerations into core business operations and strategy
BUSINESS LEADERS CAN TAKE ACTION TO:
1) Embed children’s rights into core business strategy
and processes – backed up by strong governance
structures and public reporting.
Questions to consider:
• Does the company systematically assess the risks
of child labor and adverse child rights impacts in its
operating context and relationships with business
partners?
• Are child rights firmly embedded throughout the
company’s human rights due diligence processes? (See
next page for more details.)
• Are employees aware, trained and furnished with the
resources and support to address child rights in relevant
decision-making processes?
• Does the company monitor, track and report on
outcomes for workers and children affected in its
operations and supply chains?
2) Identify opportunities to tackle the root causes of child
labor and address them through core business activity.
Questions to consider:
• Does the company pay a living wage and support living
incomes in supply chains that take into account the costs
of family expenditures?
• Does the company provide and support family-friendly
policies (e.g. paid maternity and paternity leave, support
for breastfeeding and access to quality childcare)?
• Does the company support diversity and inclusion
initiatives that mainstream non-discrimination and equity
considerations?
• Does the company review and assess how its purchasing
practices may contribute to risks of child labor?
• Does the company pay all local and national taxes to
strengthen national revenue streams that can support
public services for children?
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 17
INTEGRATING CHILD RIGHTS IN POLICY
COMMITMENTS, DUE DILIGENCE, AND REMEDY
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) outline the business
responsibility to respect human rights, including the rights of vulnerable groups such as
children. The following diagram illustrates how business leaders can support the incorporation
of a child rights perspective into the human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes that are laid
out in the UNGPs.

Publicly commit to align business policy and practice

with efforts to respect child rights and eliminate child
labor
Ensure that grievance mechanisms Policy and
are accessible to children and their governance
representatives and promote remediation
systems that integrate the best interests
of the child

Undertake risk and impact assessments on

Identify child labor and its root causes, ensuring that
Remediation and assess the perspectives of children are included
impacts
Stakeholder
engagement

Implement meaningful monitoring and

reporting frameworks to track progress Monitor, track Integrate
against stated objectives and report and act Strengthen and integrate child rights within relevant
company functions and take action to prevent child
labor and address root causes

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 18

How Olam has integrated a child rights perspective into its business

Olam has outlined a commitment greater realisation of respecting human

to respecting human rights in all its rights in its supply chains.
operations and across its value chains.
To help achieve this, Olam is We have integrated
In addition to complying with laws and
statutory requirements, the company has
improving awareness and training child rights into our
embedded its commitment to human
for its 3,500-management team and
implementing more robust outcome
broader human
rights in its Code of Conduct and policies.
measures for all its programmes to better rights due diligence
across our business
It has also integrated children's rights and
understand, identify and address the root
child labor considerations into its core
business processes and broader human
causes of child labor.
to ensure that we
rights due diligence activities.
effectively address
To better understand its operations and the root causes and
the associated issues in its markets,
Olam undertook a global risk assessment focus our resources
reviewing its origins and commodity on interventions to
human rights risks, including child labor.
It is also complementing this with field
tackle risks across
assessments in areas identified as agricultural supply
high risk for child labor. This 'knowing chains.
and showing' approach enabled Olam
to understand where its impacts and Sunny Verghese
'hotspots' exist. This aligns with the Co-Founder and Group CEO
company's objective to contribute to the Olam international

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 19

The Mars Wrigley ‘Protecting Children Action plan’ in action
In 2018, Mars launched their ‘Cocoa
for Generations Strategy’ with a plan to
invest $1 billion over the next 10 years to
reshape the future of cocoa by creating a
more modern, inclusive and sustainable
supply chain. This includes USD $300
million to be invested into their ‘Protecting
Children Action Plan’ which was launched
in 2020.
The Protecting Children Action Plan
(PCAP) sets out how Mars seeks to work
with suppliers, governments, experts and
others to identify, prevent and mitigate
human rights issues. The strategic
approach laid out in the PCAP comprises
four main levers: (1) robust child labor
monitoring and remediation systems;
(2) women’s social and economic
development;
(3) access to quality education and
children’s development opportunities;
and (4) increasing income. These are
designed to be mutually reinforcing and
to address the root causes of human
rights issues. Mars believes there are
strong and direct links between increased
income, gender equality, and access to
quality education, and reduced risk of
child labor and forced labor.

We are proud to see the results of our actions

and efforts so far and we believe stronger
collaboration is key as more remains to be done
to reach our ambitions. Everyone involved in
the cocoa supply chain must step up and help
drive sustained improvements to the lives of
cocoa farmers.
Andrew Clarke
Global President,
Mars Wrigley

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 20

VF Corp uses worker interviews to define its child rights
programs and investments
VF is a portfolio company featuring active Child rights focused programs include
lifestyle brands such as The North Face child friendly spaces in factories where
and Timberland. The company’s focus on no childcare options are available and a
child rights began in Asia in 2016 where recent commitment to
most suppliers are based. Over time, VF’s launch a pilot program to
emphasis changed, from a risk-based create decent work and
approach to child labor, to addressing safe opportunities for
worker wellbeing and child rights in a young workers. In 2021,
more holistic way. VF also announced a
Child Rights Pledge
To understand the needs and living
in support of the
conditions of workers in VF’s supply
International Year for
chain, the company undertakes biennial
the Elimination of Child
needs assessments globally across key
Labor. In the pledge, the
sourcing regions by interviewing over
company commits to
5,000 workers. The results define VF’s
increased due diligence
Worker and Community Development
in the upstream supply
program, which includes addressing the
chain and to review how
root causes of child labor. Based on the
purchasing practices,
findings, VF prioritizes interventions in
working conditions and
partnership with expert implementing
wages in the supply
partners, factories and local communities.
chain may contribute to
Through these worker interviews VF
increased risks of child
learned that a key universal motivation
labor.
for workers was to provide a better life for
their children.

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 21

 As we look to
deepen our commitment
to our purpose-led
mission, children are
a key stakeholder in
the betterment of
both people and the
planet. Our new pledge
embodies all of the
important work VF
has done to date and
further demonstrates
our aspirations to being
a leading industry
advocate for the rights
of children.
Julie Sutton
Senior Director, Global Impact &
Government Affairs, VF Corporation

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 22

 INVEST
Invest in business capacity and community resilience to prevent child labor
BUSINESS LEADERS CAN TAKE ACTION TO:
1) Strengthen company functions and invest in the
resources, support and capabilities to effectively
implement the company’s child labor commitments.
Questions to consider:
• Does the company invest in internal capacity to ensure
effective implementation of strategies to address the root
causes of child labor (e.g. training procurement staff on
child labor prevention strategies)?
• Does the company support suppliers to address the root
causes of child labor (e.g. training and capacity building,
awareness raising and financial support)?
• Does the company invest in efforts to increase leverage
with business partners and suppliers to promote
effective action to prevent child labor (e.g. through
regular dialogues, multi-stakeholder collaboration and/or
contractual incentives and rewards)?
• Does the company invest in systems that help collect
data and report transparently on child labor risks?
2) Harness company resources to support the
strengthening of public systems, governance structures,
industry partnerships and local collaborations.
Questions to consider:
• Does the company invest in community or area-based
social sustainability programs that address root causes
of child labor (e.g. access to quality education, school
to work transition, food security, alternative livelihood
development.)?
• Does the company support community programs that
address harmful social norms and provide economic and
gender empowerment to vulnerable families?
• Do the company’s efforts reinforce and strengthen
national and local government efforts on child protection
and social protection, including in relation to local child
labor remediation?
• Do the company's efforts prioritize most salient issues,
with focus given to children most at risk?
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 23
The Cargill-CARE partnership, working together to tackle the
root causes of child labor
CARE and Cargill have been working Associations, building women’s economic Addressing a
together in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire
for over a decade to combat the many
empowerment through entrepreneurship,
improving household nutrition, and access
critical issue such
challenges in the cocoa sector including to quality education for children.  as child labor
child labor.  requires a holistic,
The partnership takes a multi-intervention
community participatory
approach, directly engaging with
strategy, which has
communities to co-design action been shaped by our
plans to address their highest partnership with
priority issues. 
CARE. Together, we
Programs that tackle some of the
root causes of child labor include:
are helping to tackle
awareness raising and training on the root causes of
its harmful effects, the creation child labor and enable
of community development
committees to enable villagers
better lives for cocoa
to build and plan for their own farmers and their
success, the establishment families.
of micro-finance structures
like Village Savings and Loans Harold Poelma
President, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 24

Boosting opportunities for young people in Assam

Twinings and UNICEF have been working
together since 2010, to improve the
lives of the most vulnerable women
and children, across 63 tea gardens in
Assam, India.   opportunities, teaching them to protect
The program has reached over 34,000
young women directly and indirectly. 
It includes boosting opportunities for
13,987 young girls, through the project's
Adolescent Girls Groups, helping
them to become more confident and
informed, creating access to better
themselves and their peers from harm,
and enabling a safe environment where
they can thrive.
As part of their work investing in and
empowering communities, UNICEF and
Twinings have also formed 63 Child
Protection Committees to protect
children from violence, exploitation, and
abuse.  

At Twinings, we recognize our responsibility to work towards ensuring

the people who grow, tend, and harvest our tea and herbs, have a good
quality of life. Children in remote tea communities often lack access to
child protection measures and development opportunities, so we have
introduced Child Protection Committees and support young people to
have the best start in life. This is one of many interventions within our
‘Sourced with Care’ programme. We believe that by working with others,
we can be a catalyst for driving the positive change that is needed.
Bob Tavener
CEO, Twinings

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 25

© UNICEF/UNI88063/Crouch

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 26

 INSPIRE
Inspire employees, suppliers and industry peers to accelerate meaningful action
BUSINESS LEADERS CAN TAKE ACTION TO:
1) Make a public commitment
to children’s rights and the
elimination of child labor.
Questions to consider:
• Has the company made a
public child rights commitment
(standalone or as part of a wider
human rights commitment)?
• Does the company communicate
internally and externally about
its commitment to support the
elimination of child labor?
• Has the company defined
objectives, targets and key
performance indicators that enable
meaningful monitoring, progress
tracking and reporting?
• Does the company publicly report
on progress on a periodic basis?
2) Proactively communicate the
importance of child labor prevention
strategies.
Questions to consider:
• Is the company taking a public
stand and communicating the
importance of governments and
businesses collectively addressing
the root causes of child labor?
• Is the company publicly supporting
the messaging that a paradigm
shift is needed in the way
businesses address child labor –
shifting away from a mere focus on
compliance to collaborating and
tackling its root causes?
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 27
3) Advocate and act collectively as
an industry to encourage effective
action.
Questions to consider:
• Is the company highlighting the
importance of holistic action to
tackle child labor in discussions
with governments, policy-makers
and industry peers?
• Is the company advocating for
stronger public policies to protect
and fulfil the rights of children?
• Is the company collaborating
with industry peers to scale and
promote good practices that
have been proven to address root
causes of child labor?
IKEA promotes its suppliers to provide decent work
opportunities for young workers
IKEA started tackling child labor in its
supply chain in the 1990’s through
IWAY – the IKEA way of responsibly
procuring products, services, materials
and components. This year, as part of
its public commitment in support of the
International Year for the Elimination of
Child Labor, IKEA has been accelerating
its long-term program to provide decent
work for young workers (under 18 and
above the minimum legal working age).
By identifying where risks to youth
unemployment and lack of educational
opportunities are highest, IKEA is working
with suppliers to implement programs
that strengthen the inclusion of young
workers in its supply chain. Since 2016,
the company has undertaken several
pilot programs in Vietnam and Indonesia
to support the inclusion of young people
in safe and decent work.
A key approach for IKEA is inspiring to work with partners to advance family-
its suppliers to take ownership of the friendly policies to tackle the root causes
program. Through dialogue and training of child labor.
with supplier management
teams, IKEA seeks to trigger
their own interest in and
understanding of the benefits
of hiring young workers, whilst
continuing to provide support
and tools to enable them further.
Recent examples include
supplier training on recruiting
young workers and guidance
on how to analyze opportunities
and tasks that are safe and
appropriate for them to deliver.
In its 2021 public commitment,
IKEA also announced plans to
strengthen children’s rights in its
due diligence systems, to join
the ILO Child Labor Platform and
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 28
 All children have
rights, everywhere
and always. As a
global business,
we have a big
responsibility
to demonstrate
leadership and be
aware of our impact
throughout the
IKEA value chain
and take action to
address it.

Lena Pripp-Kovac
Chief Sustainability Officer,
Inter IKEA Group

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 29

Cross-sector collaboration to end child labor in the mica industry

The Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI), In 2019, RMI

set up in India in 2017, aims to create a introduced a ‘Global
responsible and sustainable supply chain workplace standard
that is free of child labor. Its 76 members for Mica processors’
include representatives from the and started supporting
cosmetics, paint, pigments, electronics, improved workplace
automotive and plastics industries. practices through
trainings and other
RMI’s approach relies on close
dedicated tools.
collaboration with partners and
stakeholders, including the Indian RMI also play an
Government, private companies, NGOs important role
and CSOs. Their first challenge was in connecting
to map the mica supply chain before its members to
implementing solutions to address government programs
the root causes of child labor, such as that seek to tackle child
low wages, access to education, and labor and formalize
promoting alternative sources of income. the mica sector.
Engagement has
 
also now started in
Madagascar.

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 30

WHY TAKING ACTION MAKES BUSINESS
SENSE
While taking action to end child labor is a business responsibility, it can also ensure businesses:
1. Avoid unlawful practice:
An increasing number of
countries are in the process of
adopting or implementing human
rights due diligence measures
for businesses, with some giving
particular focus to labor rights and
child labor.
2. Retain and engage employees:
Policies addressing the root
causes of child labor (such
as family-friendly policies)
can improve recruitment,
retention and loyalty and reduce
absenteeism. They can also
support organizational targets on
gender, diversity and inclusion.
3. Increase productivity: Working Respecting children’s rights is
parents are more productive when increasingly seen as an integral
they know their children are safe, component of good ESG
cared for and have access to management.
education.
6. Support economic
4. Mitigate reputational risk: development: Supporting
Actions addressing children’s children to be free from child
rights can enhance a company's labor, to access quality education
reputation whilst practices and to reach their full potential
negatively impacting children risk supports economic development
jeopardizing it, threatening the that, in turn, creates long-term
business' license to operate. opportunities for business growth.
5. Attract investment: Investor
confidence increases when
there is evidence that a
company is actively managing
its environmental, social and
governance (ESG) risks.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 31
 © UNICEF/UNI58432/Noorani
Emerging legislation on
human rights due diligence
The momentum towards
operationalizing responsible
business conduct through mandatory
human rights due diligence (HRDD)
continues to gather force. At national,
regional, and international levels,
regulatory measures are being adopted
or debated to embed HRDD into law. For Child labor remains a key concern for
example, Germany’s Supply Chain Due businesses and supply chains in many
Diligence Act (to come into force in 2023) parts of the world. As an investor, we
requires companies to identify, prevent
consider respect for children’s rights
and remediate risks of child labor, and
annually report on measures taken. Similar as an inherent part of good business
laws are currently underway or have been practice and risk management.
adopted in recent years in France, the Companies should take steps to
Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. identify, assess and manage their
The European Commission is currently potential and actual negative impacts
preparing human rights due diligence on children.
legislation at the EU-level. The EU also
outlined its commitment to eliminate Carine Smith Ihenacho
child labor from the supply chains of EU Chief Governance and Compliance Officer,
Norges Bank Investment Management
companies in its EU Strategy on the
Rights of the Child (adopted in 2021).

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 32

© UNICEF/UNI88092/Crouch

By integrating respect
and support for
children’s rights into
the core strategies
and operations, they
[businesses] can
strengthen their
existing corporate
sustainability initiatives
while ensuring benefits
for their business.
Such efforts can build
reputation, improve
risk management and
secure their social
license to operate.

Children’s Rights
and Business Principles

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 33

FURTHER INFORMATION:
A CHILD RIGHTS APPROACH
TO CHILD LABOR
In 2012, The Children's Rights and Business Principles
(CRBP) were co-developed by UNICEF, Save the Children and
the UN Global Compact to provide businesses with an overview
of where their operations and supply chains can impact
on children. 

The CRBP can be used to help Supporting children's rights

businesses understand how
they interact with and impact the
lives of children in the workplace,
marketplace, community and the
environment.
Respecting children's rights
means doing no harm to children
throughout the company’s
business operations and supply
chains.
 
means making a conscious effort
to act and invest in programs that
support children to thrive.
Principle 2 of the CRBP calls on
businesses to “Contribute to the
elimination of child labor, including in
all business activities and business
relationships.”
https://www.unicef.org/media/96136/file/
Childrens-Rights-Business-Principles-2012.pdf

TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 34

KEY CONTACTS

James Gomme Marcus Burke Chris Kip

Director, Equity Action, WBCSD Manager, Equity Action, WBCSD Child Rights & Business Specialist, UNICEF
gomme@wbcsd.org burke@wbcsd.org ckip@unicef.org

Disclaimer: This report is the result of collaborative efforts by UNICEF and the WBCSD secretariat and executives from member companies and
partners. The document represents the opinion of the majority of members and partners. It does not mean, however, that every member company
and every partner agrees with every word.
Neither UNICEF nor BMZ endorses any company, brand, product or service. The inclusion of a company name and/or example in this report does not
constitute an endorsement by UNICEF or BMZ of the company's practices.
TACKLING CHILD LABOR: AN INTRODUCTION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS 35
World Business Council
for Sustainable Development
Beijing Delhi Geneva London New York City Singapore

www.wbcsd.org